News

Recovery after breast cancer is often a complex process, especially given that many individuals feel that they are living in another body during and post treatment due to surgeries, body composition changes, and altered eating habits. Weight and body image concerns are significant in these clients given that some may lose weight and lean muscle mass in the initial stages of treatment, and then gain weight after commencing endocrine therapy. Weight-gain can be anxiety-provoking, not only from a body image perspective, but also given that increased body weight is associated with increased risk of breast cancer recurrence.

In addition to this, many clients develop significant food fears and avoidance post recovery, including the elimination of food groups, and are often confused and frustrated with the conflicting information they receive from multiple sources.

In this very informative presentation, Senior Oncology Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, Lauren Atkins discusses the dietary and body image struggles encountered in breast cancer care in the long-term. Through the example of a case study, she discusses the common nutritional challenges in breast cancer care, integrating the latest evidence-based research to focus on survivorship and the prevention of breast cancer recurrence. She discusses how prolonging overnight fasting (thus reducing the eating window) for greater than 13 hours per night can decrease cancer recurrence. Lauren also focuses on specific food groups and components, debunking common nutritional misconceptions around dietary soy intake and breast cancer risk. She also explains how following a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruit and vegetables, fish and extra virgin olive oil, with less than 500g of red meat consumption per week can be beneficial in preventing recurrence.

Overall, it is critical that clients living with breast cancer receive ongoing nutritional follow-up to empower them with evidence-based knowledge and assist in enhancing survivorship.

This presentation is useful for dietitians seeking to work in the oncology sector and also for any dietitians working with breast cancer survivors.

Summary:

• Diet management during and post breast cancer is a complex and critical process.
• Intuitive eating principles and body image empowerment can have a significant impact on clients.
• Current research around calcium and breast cancer risk are conflicting, although a Mediterranean-style diet and decreasing the daily eating window appear to be protective in reducing breast cancer recurrence.
• As clinicians, it is important that key nutritional misconceptions are debunked around breast cancer recovery and survivorship in a respectful and informative manner.

Lauren has worked in cancer care and survivorship for over 10 years. She co-founded her business, OnCore Nutrition after having spent her career working as a Senior Dietitian at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The Royal Children’s Hospital Cancer Centre, Epworth Freemasons, as well as providing education for Deakin, Monash, LaTrobe, Victoria and Melbourne Universities. She has vast experience in using good nutrition to help prevent, manage and overcome cancer, from diagnosis through to survivorship and palliation. She is a member of the COSA Nutrition Group Executive Committee and has been invited to contribute to national cancer care frameworks and present much of her research at national and international conferences. Lauren has undertaken advanced training in natural and integrative medicine to better advise individuals and groups on the safe and appropriate use of complementary therapies.

To register for the presentation and associated documents including the assessment quiz click here